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A group of six quirky but brave youngsters encounter the trail of a colossal and fearsome supernatural darkness that has infiltrated our world from the outer limits of oblivion. They have no choice but to devote their lives battling it, enduring terror upon terror in the process.

A Familiar Plot with a Fresh Approach

This describes the premise, broadly speaking, of Stephen King’s novel It (a standout in his career; undeniable). It parallels of the celebrated author’s heir Joseph Hillstrom King’s recent horror doorstopper, in which a band of six call forth the age-old, utterly malevolent beast King Sorrow from the Long Dark to help them defeat some villains. Needless to say, their supernatural ritual has unintended consequences.

Celebrating a Family Legacy

The author began his writing journey going to great lengths to avoid any connection from his well-known dad, using the pseudonym he still uses today and steering clear of encounters with his agent (he bears a striking resemblance to his father). Yet with this recent release, he embraces it. Certain passages that consciously reflect some of the senior author’s well-known (that classic opening line); a incident that evokes a King plot point (a battle of wits). In this epic story, Joe Hill takes pleasure in his family connection, and readers share in the joy.

The Cast of the Protagonists

Back to those friends: the majority are scholars at the fictional the esteemed institution in this northeastern locale. First is Arthur, bookish and brilliant, solving ancient puzzles in his free moments; another key figure, wealthy, astute, and prone to trampling those who oppose him; the twin siblings; the attractive the lovely Allie. Then we have Gwen, who remains outside their academic circle, but becomes a key part of their band as they dabble, half believing, half not, in arcane arts.

The Critical Ceremony

Arthur is, for reasons we don’t need to go into, obliged to take valuable volumes from his treasured institution’s archives by a set of regional villains. This devastates his scholarly soul, especially when he’s forced to acquire the institution’s prized and disturbing title: the diary of occultist this enigmatic character (put to death “for conspiring with dark forces in 1703”; the cover is crafted from his flesh). The intrepid group examine the log, learn they can invoke what the occultist details as a “proud worm to aid our hero with his extortion dilemma – and devote the remaining story facing the fallout. King Sorrow will indeed rid them of those problematic neighborhood criminals, but they are required to pick a fresh offering every twelve months or succumb to the dragon’s wrath. As our protagonist states: “You sow dragon’s teeth, all you get is further monstrosities.”

Narrative Dexterity and Inventive Breadth

Moving through four decades, Hill also moves with effortless ease through various literary forms: as the friends endeavor to address the situation they find themselves in by, variously, choosing undeniably wicked targets to immolate, or searching for methods to kill the dragon themselves, we move between thriller to grim fantasy, covert operations to affectionate subplot to fright. One particularly memorable shift was to a adventure narrative, within the subterranean depths under the English county, a segment infused with the Lord of the Rings author that was gloriously terrifying.

An Expansive Mosaic of Fear and Optimism

The novel features trolls – bridge-dwelling ones and internet antagonists, truly terrifying and expertly realized. We see enchanted blades and deceptions, heart-stopping scenes of bravery and instances of terrible wickedness, both human and otherworldly. It’s a tour de force: a horror novel that is chiefly a tribute to the human inventiveness, and to affection and camaraderie. “We needed a story to believe and {now we’ve got one|presently we possess it|currently we hold it,” says this character as the allies gather at the table, getting ready to invoke their beast into existence with the power of their thoughts.

As Hill puts it in his introductory quote: “Hic sunt dracones”. Don’t miss them.